User profile: lauralbi1
Joined: Oct. 11, 2006
Comments posted: 519
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Comments by lauralbi1
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Posted on August 28 at 5:01 p.m.
Dear Bloggers: I have done the research myself and know for a fact that Marco Island gets back 11% of the approx $150 million that we give to thre County in Property taxes. These figures are easily verifiable by either going to our City Hall or to the County seat, or on the web.
Good luck in your research. We don't need nobody else to think for us !!!
Ed Issler
Posted on August 28 at 11:06 a.m.
Gentlemen, Gentlmen, Gentlemen: How quickly you manage to get off point on these factual issues. While I do not agree with Wayne's analysis by square mile (although a per capita analysis yields the same conclusion and is more valid), the point is that Marco island has many Departments and required services that Lighthouse Point does not. And while the author's points and goals are noble and valid, the most important point has not been brought up.
I TOOK THE TIME TO RESEARCH LIGHTHOUSE POINT AND READ THE MINUTES OF THEIR LAST COMMISSION MEETING (AUGUST 2008). IT MAY INTEREST ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING THE AUTHOR, TO KNOW THAT LIGHTHOUSE POINT HAS JUST PASSED A FIRE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FEE TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR BUDGET. They have joined the long list of Florida Cities that are doing this to survive.
In addition, their mileage rate is 3.4 something with no CAP in place. Anyway, please get back on topic and let's discuss how we cut spending and have revenue to run our Paradise.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 25 at 7:02 p.m.
No guys, I have been working out of town for two weeks now, am out of town now and have many other things going on in my life other than posting these blogs.
You are saying that our Council cannot think for themselves, cannot formulate their own opinions, and are under control of a single citizen. You guys are the ones that need to chill out and get a life. As I said, I hope Mr. Arceri, you, me and everyone never stop writing to our representatives and expressing their opinions on issues.
That process is a great thing, no matter what your opinion is.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 22 at 10:11 a.m.
Avenger: You give much to much credit to one individual and no credit to the 8000 or more (out of 12,000) that voted in the current Council. It is time for you to realize that Retirement is just one aspect of this Paradise and that there are other people and other services that require attention. Yes, I don't rememeber the exact numbers, I only know that it was defined as a landslide.
You are right about one thing, though. There are those of US (and there are hundreds, not a few) that will work tirelessly to make certain that a convicted Mr. Kiester is not re-elected to Council and that Mr. Hall or Mr. Neylon are not elected in his place.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 22 at 10:01 a.m.
Actually, I just rememebered that it was not a blog, but that I sent a Letter to the Editor. I suggest you read it again to settle down.
RUSH TO JUDGEMENT
The recent effort by City Council to study a takeover of the LCEC service has created a panic along with a number of new “experts” and naysayers without any justification or foresight. There are those asking questions like who will run it and why fix something that isn’t broke? There are those with no vision that say “No, don’t study this because it is more than we can chew at this time”.
Thank everyone for the fact that our recently elected Council is made up of people that are not afraid to find out the hard answers. They are not afraid to find out information before jumping to conclusions that have no bearing on doing a study or not.
Has anyone thought that maybe if a study showed that we could save millions by taking over LCEC, and we started looking into it, that LCEC, might decide it is in their best interest to lower our rates? God forbid that Marco Island find itself in a strong negotiating position for a change. Or did anyone think that if there is enough money in this acquisition that we could contract with FP&L to run our Utility?
But no, LCEC is our Knight In Shining Armor. That is why, for the first time ever, they held a Public Forum, complete with questions and answers and accompanying threats. Did anyone ask themselves why LCEC did this? Why are they so afraid of Marco Island doing this study?
The preliminary numbers are staggering. Marco Island generates $1.7 million dollars per year per square mile in Electric Revenue for LCEC. The balance of their service area generates $140,000 per year per square mile. Or that Marco Island’s system delivers some $308,000 of revenue for every mile of high voltage electric wires on Marco Island compared to only $46,000 per mile for the entire LCEC service area.
But we are not talking about an acquisition here. We are talking about a study. All of a sudden electricians are experts, citizens are experts. Let’s be happy that our Council has the vision to look into this matter. It may result in nothing, or it may be a bonanza for us. Support those with vision trying to do what’s best for our Paradise!!
Ed Issler
Posted on August 22 at 9:55 a.m.
Fossil/Van and others: I read your responses and am just amazed that you think that what you have stated is relevant. Honestly and objectively, come on take off the skewed glasses and drink from the cup of objectivity. You can read my own postings from long ago when I wrote in these same blogs about the upcoming committee on LCEC. While I have never read Arceri's e-mails, I said basically the same thing that Fossil quoted above. Van, what are you trying to say ?? I write e-mails to Council all the time, ask any of them. I express my opinions to them all the time. Hopefully you do the same thing. I hope that you both and Mr. Arceri never stop doing it. I certainly will not. The Council has 5 members that represent a landslide majority of our voting citizens. Whether you agree with their decisions or not, that is how are City is run (in answer to Mr. Kiester's question). Mr. Kiester has a lot of "Sour Grapes" when it comes to Mr. Arceri, going back to when Mr. Arceri was on Council. I know because Mr. Kiester wrote some scathing e-mails about me to Mr. Bania (I have them) and I got involved in this stuff.
In my opinion, and really, in fact, this is a non-issue that is unsupportable and pure rhetoric on the part of Mr. McMullan (the requestor) and Mr. Kiester. Think about it, the two people behind this opinion letter consist of one that is a convicted Public servant and another, but for the errors of a young District Attorney, very possibly would have been one also. I base that comment on conclusions that I made based on the articles about Mr. McMullan's past Indictment when he was a Public servant, which I encourage all of you to read about.
Let's move on to something important like reducing our City expenses.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 21 at 11:25 p.m.
Mr. Kiester, et al: I am trying to understand your question. You receive thousands of e-mails from Marco Island residents. You receive hundreds from the same individuals and interest groups. Your voting record and conduct reflect these e-mails and their influence. In fact, your relationship with a previous reporter affected the news published in the paper. Each and every citizen should take the time to express their views to the entire Council and express it on every issue and as much as they can and as many times as they can.
On behalf of the almost 70% of the Marco Citizenry, I can say with certainty, in answer to your question, that Thank God it isn't you !!!
Ed Issler
Posted on August 17 at 5 p.m.
I think we all are in agreement that we do not need new City employees. I think we all agree that spending must be reviewed and cut back where available. The issue is if we need to make up for revenue shortfall, then we need an assessment of some kind. Let's see how the numbers come out.
Ed Issler
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council
Posted on August 15 at 4:40 p.m.
MarcoObserver: You really need to see a doctor. You seem to have a schitzoid streak running through you. Any ultimate outcome of this will be put in front of the voters. And the only way it will even make it that far is if the numbers prove out. At that point, it will be up to you and I.
The people spoke (a landslide proportion) in the last election, where were you ?? There is no one man pulling any strings, get real in order to make positive comments and contributions. And most importantly, enjoy life.
Ed Issler
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Posted on August 29 at 8:56 a.m.
Fossil: To call our Democratically elected officials "shifty" is an insult to us all and a reflection of your "sour grapes". I do not know how many times this 1500 person minority has to understand that they do NOT represent the MAJORITY of citizens on Marco Island. This was more than proven in the last election. And for Mr. McMullan to address Water Utility issues, he should refrain as he knows not from which he speaks on the issue. Or better yet, he should take the time to develop a Cost Matrix and compare our Utility to others and what they have done recently or are doing as a result of Drought and Power costs, before he speaks. It is easy to be lazy and throw arrows. It is difficult and time consuming to do research and be relevant.
Now, that is not to say that for our Council to be fiscally responsible is not a requirement to all citizens, but the majority voted to have a Council that was not afraid to continue to improve Marco Island.
So, it is a good thing that Mr. McMullan brings out that the Minority still exists, but do not insult a Council elected by your neighbors just because you may happen to disagree with them.
Almost every City in Florida is enacting Assessment Districts to make up for a Property Tax shortfall and to make up for deficits in their budgets (including Lighthouse Point, used in a LTE Tuesday). If we need one, then I support our Council. We do not need additional employees at City Hall and they froze the request. They are researching the need for, and amount of, any Assesssment for Fire.
What else would you have them do?? Wait, don't answer that as you probably have no desire for Parks, schools, Marco families, Storm Drains, street lights, the need for a bride, bridge repairs, etc, etc on Marco Island.
Ed Issler
On Letter to the Editor: From roses to rabbits